Best ODI Captains

[southafrica]

Here's a list, feel free to disagree!

1) Flemming (New Zealand)
2) Ponting (Australia)
3) Smith (South Africa)
4) Dravid (India)
5) Lara (West Indies)
6) Vaughn (England)
7) Ul Haq (Pakistan)
8) Jayawardene (Sri Lanka)

I miss Zimbabwe's Tetenda Taibu, thought he was a gutsy player, and potentially great captain... just another thing Robert has messed up...

[PhoenixFire]

Any reason why you rate Smith so high?

[southafrica]

He brings the team together, he has insightful field placings, and is generally an excellent leader....oh yes, and I'm South African

[PhoenixFire]

He brings the team together, he has insightful field placings, and is generally an excellent leader....oh yes, and I'm South African

I'll take the last reason as the most desisive.

[southafrica]

You're lucky I didn't put him at number one! It takes a lot for a South African to admit that an Aussie is better!

[PhoenixFire]

Even more difficult for us

[haroon510]

England's captain

[age_master]

I'd probably rate Smith 3rd too.

Ponting and Smith do have 1 key thing over Fleming and Vaughan - they are both very good ODI batsmen. Smith is about 40 and Ponting averages 43. Fleming is down at 32 and Vaughan is 28. That, for me, limits their potential impact on a game and thus limits their captaincy slightly.

[corza_nz]

1)Fleming
2)Smith
3)Vaughan
4)Ponting
5)Dravid
6)Lara
7)Jaywardene
8)Ul-Haq

[Richard]

I seem to recall this was done not so long ago...

[James90]

1. Fleming
2. Ponting
3. Vaughan
4. Smith
5. Jayawardene
6. Dravid
7. Lara
8. Inzamam

[Matt79]

In ODIs, I'd actually rate Ponting as the best - just ahead of Fleming. He's a better ODI captain than Test captain, he uses his brilliant charges in the field very effectively, and also consistently fulfils the "lead by example" component of the captaincy role - he must have played more "captain's innings" than anyone else in ODIs at the moment... His leadership in ODIs has had its blemishes, but rarely in games of consequence, and even more rarely when he wasn't let down by selection issues (ie. you try effectively using Mick Lewis)...

Fleming is obviously an innovative captain who has often wrung more from his team than you'd guess was there. Recently however, I'd say that many of his attempted innovations, particularly with the use of power-plays, have failed more than they've succeeded. I also don't think he has the authority within his team and the respect of the opposition in the way Ponting does.

I know people are probably trying to separate the contributions the captains make AS CAPTAIN compared to as a player, and you can do that to an extent. But if a player isn't pulling his weight in the team, I think his effectiveness as a captain usually suffers - witness Flintoff in Australia during the Ashes...

[alternative]

1. Fleming
2. Ponting
3. Vaughan
4. Smith
5. Jayawardene
6. Dravid
7. Lara
8. Inzamam

Like this, only difference is that i would have Dravid at the bottom end of the scale.

[Zinzan]

Fleming is obviously an innovative captain who has often wrung more from his team than you'd guess was there. Recently however, I'd say that many of his attempted innovations, particularly with the use of power-plays, have failed more than they've succeeded. I also don't think he has the authority within his team and the respect of the opposition in the way Ponting does. ...

Totally disagree with that comment, infact I think you would find he is very highly thought of and respected by opposition as a player, captain and as a person.

[Fiery]

Fleming would have a lot more respect from his opposition as a captain than Ponting. I've always seen Ponting as an unsophisticated (slightly uncouth), short guy who couldn't handle his drink who happens to also be one of the best batsmen of all time.